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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: stephean lawrence <stepheanlawrence@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:18:52 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Mrs Stephean Lawrence



Dear beloved friend,
I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I came
across your email contact from my personal search and decided to write
to you concerning my deposited fund, so that the bank will transfer
this money to your account I am I am Mrs Stephean Lawrence from Spain,

Married in Abidjan Cote D,Ivoire, i am 42 years old, i am deaf and
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast, which affected my
speaking organ. From all indication my condition is really
deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may
not live beyond the next few months,

this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was
brought up in a motherless babys home, and was married to my late
husband for twenty years without a child. My husband have died since
two years now and the family of my husband have drived me away because
i have no child with my husband and the family. Since his death of my
husband I decided not to re-marry,

my husband is very rich and have a lot of investment which the family
now have taken over.I herited US$5.6M dollars(Five million six
hundread thousand dollars)which my late husband deposited in one of
the bank here before he died. presently this money is still with bank
Presently, I‘m with my laptop in a hospital where I have been
undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and my
doctors have being trying everthing humanly possible but God knows the
best.

i will like so you will help me recive this US$5.6M to your account so
that i will come there and take a better treatment which you will use
this money invest in any good lucrative business in your country
because this money is the only hope in my life. As soon as I receive
your reply I shall give order to the contact of Bank to release the
money to your account Awaiting your reply,

Yours in Christ,
Mrs Stephean Lawrence

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